It was a gut punch to be sure to end a very disappointing season. It is hard to face the fact that our title window honestly probably shut for this era on July 4, 2016 when a certain player lit a match as he left town. What he did to this franchise is unforgivable in my book. Really hard to swallow that and just shows you how fleeting success potential can be in sports. The story for this era just wasn't supposed to be this way. I'd rather not think about it. It's too tough.

At least Westbrook got a triple-double

Bye, Billy. It was nice knowing ya, playboy!

Sad to say, but I actually think they will give Billy his last year on contract.

Bye, Billy. It was nice knowing ya, playboy!

Billy is the least of thunder’s problems. Number one is Westbrook.

I don't think Billy Donovan is a great coach by any means, but getting rid of him and having the same roster with Westbrook performing as he is won't solve anything.

The main issue is Westbrook. If Westbrook plays well, so does the team. If he doesn't...then well, I think we know what the team's ceiling looks like.

I don't think Billy Donovan is a great coach by any means, but getting rid of him and having the same roster with Westbrook performing as he is won't solve anything.

The main issue is Westbrook. If Westbrook plays well, so does the team. If he doesn't...then well, I think we know what the team's ceiling looks like.

bigger issue (not last night but down the stretch) was PG not playing well

bigger issue (not last night but down the stretch) was PG not playing well

Even bigger issue, inconsistent outside shooting throughout the season. PG didn’t play great in this series but he shot the ball well most of the year. One or two other role players that could consistently knockdown an outside shot would go a long way. Shooting has been abysmal this season.

bigger issue (not last night but down the stretch) was PG not playing well

Even bigger issues, inconsistent outside shooting and poor bench play throughout the season. PG didn’t play great in this series but he shot the ball well most of the year. One or two other role players that could consistently knockdown an outside shot would go a long way. Shooting has been abysmal this season.

We played or best game all series and still came up short. That is just the Dame mission. That guy had one of the greatest playoff game performances in NBA history and you just knew he was taking that deep 3 and that it was going in.

He smoked us all series and deserves the tip of the hat. Portland was hungry for this. You cannot win in the modern NBA without 3 point shooters. Simple as that.

I love Westbrook but.....

Billy is the least of thunder’s problems. Number one is Westbrook.

Sure, but we can't do anything about Westbrook. He's got three years left on a deal that is, quite frankly, impossible to move to just about any other team in the league. There's no way we get anything close to FMV for him.

Billy on the other hand? You can get rid of that boy and bring in someone with a pulse, like Dave Joerger, Mark Jackson or maybe one of the Van Gundys. You know, someone who actually has the chutzpah to keep Russ in check.

This was on CNN's front page.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2832862-russell-westbrook-is-a-man-without-a-plan?utm_source=cnn.com&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=referral

If they get rid of Billy it would mostly to give fans the blood they want.

It is a fool's errand to fire Donovan and hire a coach who is just going to institute the same game plan of Presti. If you are unhappy with the current "Thunder Way" it is time to tell Sam to hit the the road. I would not fire Donovan and let Presti stay. That being said, the changes that need to be made start with Westbrook. He is a helluva an athlete but his basketball IQ and maturity are not commensurate with that of a 10 year super max player. If the maturity and IQ don't come with age, the failing athleticism of age will not be offset with anything.

It is a fool's errand to fire Donovan and hire a coach who is just going to institute the same game plan of Presti. If you are unhappy with the current "Thunder Way" it is time to tell Sam to hit the the road. I would not fire Donovan and let Presti stay. That being said, the changes that need to be made start with Westbrook. He is a helluva an athlete but his basketball IQ and maturity are not commensurate with that of a 10 year super max player. If the maturity and IQ don't come with age, the failing athleticism of age will not be offset with anything.

Quality analysis. 100% agree.

It is a fool's errand to fire Donovan and hire a coach who is just going to institute the same game plan of Presti. If you are unhappy with the current "Thunder Way" it is time to tell Sam to hit the the road. I would not fire Donovan and let Presti stay. That being said, the changes that need to be made start with Westbrook. He is a helluva an athlete but his basketball IQ and maturity are not commensurate with that of a 10 year super max player. If the maturity and IQ don't come with age, the failing athleticism of age will not be offset with anything.

+1!

I take Tramel's opinions seriously. He's a very good sports journalist. He thinks outside the box. He's knowledgeable and thoughtful. And he's won numerous awards for all these reasons. I have a newfound respect for him continuing to do his job as a journalist in the face of Russell's antics. Why do you not take him seriously?


As someone with limited sports knowledge who doesn’t read s lot of sports columns, he just always comes across as trying to hard to be edgy and contrarian. I have no idea if his columns are accurate or anything, but that’s the feel I get when I read his stuff.

^^
I'm imagining a local level skip bayless when he was at ESPN.

There is a top notch writing by Darnell Mayberry on The Athletic this morning on all things Thunder, Tram-Westbrook, etc. Link below (subscription).

https://theathletic.com/943465/2019/04/25/mayberry-what-years-of-covering-russell-westbrook-and-the-thunder-tell-me-about-whats-next

There is a top notch writing by Darnell Mayberry on The Athletic this morning on all things Thunder, Tram-Westbrook, etc. Link below (subscription).

https://theathletic.com/943465/2019/04/25/mayberry-what-years-of-covering-russell-westbrook-and-the-thunder-tell-me-about-whats-next

You hooked me with the tease. Anyway to post the entire article....or is it all behind a pay wall?

^yes, and it is and is very long to copy and paste. There may be a freebie trial period or very discounted subscription for first time users.

I’m sorry, but I’m finding it really difficult to be a fan of Westbrook, not only after his antics during the season, but especially after his exit interview today. I’m tired of his attitude for the people around him that want to talk basketball with him. The only time he showed he was capable of positive conversation was when he was talking about his kids which is good. Otherwise, his answers were generally smug and condescending. Mirror that with Adams, and you have night and day. He was personable, funny, and didn’t take himself all that seriously. He just seems like a nice guy. I’m not saying that I will stop being a fan of the thunder, but I’m getting tired of westbrook’s poor attitude.

^^
I'm imagining a local level skip bayless when he was at ESPN.

I'm sorry, but there's no way you could support this opinion with any evidence. Skip Bayless is everything wrong with media... He throws out absurd hot take comments to make headlines. Berry is a thinker, writer, and researcher. He's a real sports journalist. I would actually say Trammel is the polar opposite of Skip Bayless. Are you sure you're not thinking of someone like Traber? I would be happy to pull up some Skip Bayless garbage and challenge you to find anything equivalent from Trammel. If you don't believe me then take the word of literally every respected journalist who has worked with Trammel and see what they've said about his work. This type of take just bothers me because I really appreciate when someone like Berry dedicates his life to encouraging thoughtful conversations. We need more people like him.

I'm sorry, but there's no way you could support this opinion with any evidence. Skip Bayless is everything wrong with media... He throws out absurd hot take comments to make headlines. Berry is a thinker, writer, and researcher. He's a real sports journalist. I would actually say Trammel is the polar opposite of Skip Bayless. Are you sure you're not thinking of someone like Traber? I would be happy to pull up some Skip Bayless garbage and challenge you to find anything equivalent from Trammel. If you don't believe me then take the word of literally every respected journalist who has worked with Trammel and see what they've said about his work. This type of take just bothers me because I really appreciate when someone like Berry dedicates his life to encouraging thoughtful conversations. We need more people like him.


You're right, my mistake. Having said that, Skip also has roots in sports journalism in addition to having his own fair share of awards. He just happens to play a personality very well, and gets reimbursed very well as a result.

This is Darnell Mayberry's take on Trammel, granted a former colleague, but it's in line with my views. And by the way, I'm a Russ lover to the end, so don't take this as bashing him in any way:

So allow me, a media member, to defend another media member. Berry Tramel is a good man. He’s an extraordinary journalist, a true professional and the best coworker I’ve ever had. Westbrook couldn’t have picked a worse sparring partner. I worked with Tramel for 12 years at The Oklahoman. He’s a devout Christian, a loving husband, father and grandfather and one of the greatest sports writers the state has ever seen, yet he’ll knock your socks off when you witness how his selflessness belies his stature. That’s why so many are defending Tramel. Westbrook picked the wrong guy. He picked one of his biggest supporters — seriously, Google some of Tramel’s stuff on Westbrook — not some hack who made Russ his punching bag. Tramel and his wonderful wife, Tricia, have invited me and several other former co-workers into their home for Thanksgiving. When current Thunder beat writer Erik Horne had car trouble last summer, Tramel loaned him his truck. Not for a few hours. Not for a day. For the whole week. That’s who I know Berry to be. He’s a dying breed, and he’s handled an awkward situation about as professional as anyone in our business can.

And it is truly off season when the surgeries begin...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-injury-updates-thunder-stars-russell-westbrook-finger-knee-paul-george-shoulder-both-undergo-offseason-surgery

And it is truly off season when the surgeries begin...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-injury-updates-thunder-stars-russell-westbrook-finger-knee-paul-george-shoulder-both-undergo-offseason-surgery

Our history with injury’s will always make me wonder what if. PG was in the MVP discussion before the injury and was never the same after the Allstar break or in the playoffs... They didn’t mention Adams but he was obviously not at his physical best at the end of the season and is the last guy that would use that as an excuse..

The Celtics got completely destroyed and embarrassed by the Bucks...

Fire Brad Stevens!

Im gonna disagree. I think it's more of a Kyrie problem. He's just a tough player to coach and is opposite of what Celtics ball is all about. They aren't a team that is designed to have a ball hog.

Im gonna disagree. I think it's more of a Kyrie problem. He's just a tough player to coach and is opposite of what Celtics ball is all about. They aren't a team that is designed to have a ball hog.


Im gonna disagree. I think it's more of a Kyrie problem. He's just a tough player to coach and is opposite of what Celtics ball is all about. They aren't a team that is designed to have a ball hog.

For his shortcomings, Kyrie is really good. His playoff usage rate is 29%, which is 18th in the playoffs lower than "ball hogs" like Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis, James Harden, etc. Yes, last year's Celtics team moved the ball well, but they literally traded for Kyrie knowing he would need the ball more. I would bet that Brad Stevens was part of that decision. Simply labeling Kyrie as a "ball hog" and the source of all their problems kind of negates the responsibility of the coach to figure out how to make the roster work. Stevens has been a good coach, but there's no question the Celtics underachieved this season.

Presti, for the love of God find a way to land JJ Redick in free agency.

I think the Kawhi Leonard shot yesterday may have eclipsed the Lillard shot (versus the Thunder) for the killer shot of the playoffs this season. Maybe not in the minds of we Thunder fans, but that was pretty amazing and in a game 7 to advance to conference finals.

I think the Kawhi Leonard shot yesterday may have eclipsed the Lillard shot (versus the Thunder) for the killer shot of the playoffs this season. Maybe not in the minds of we Thunder fans, but that was pretty amazing and in a game 7 to advance to conference finals.

Definitely eclipses it. I believe it is the only Game 7 buzzer beater to win in playoff history.

With John Beilein going to the Cavs, it would be nice if U-M could hire Billy D.

With John Beilein going to the Cavs, it would be nice if U-M could hire Billy D.

We couldn't be so lucky. However, Billy isn't the problem--who would you replace him with.

Only one coach IMO on the market with NBA experience could link & grow this current roster:


Tom Thibodeau

Presti, for the love of God find a way to land JJ Redick in free agency.

OKC has less than zero money for free agents. Presti is going to have to find under the radar guys like Houston does to find shooting or there will have to be internal improvement. The other options to better shooting are trading either Schroeder or Adams.

We couldn't be so lucky. However, Billy isn't the problem--who would you replace him with.

Only one coach IMO on the market with NBA experience could link & grow this current roster:


Tom Thibodeau

Thibdoeau just took a talented team... and couldn't even get them in playoff contention. His good years are behind him. He plays his stars too many minutes and hasn't embraced the analytics needed to maximize his stars. I'll take Billy over Tom seven days a week.

To me, there aren't any obvious upgrades to Donovan among the known coaches in the league... Presti would have to hire someone under the radar or on their way up. Just doesn't seem likely.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Thunder hire Igor Kokoskov, but I doubt it will happen given his one-season track record with the Suns. That being said, I would bet on him eventually being the coach of a perennial playoff team somewhere.

Thibdoeau just took a talented team... and couldn't even get them in playoff contention. His good years are behind him. He plays his stars too many minutes and hasn't embraced the analytics needed to maximize his stars. I'll take Billy over Tom seven days a week.

To me, there aren't any obvious upgrades to Donovan among the known coaches in the league... Presti would have to hire someone under the radar or on their way up. Just doesn't seem likely.

Thibodeau took some talented players who never played as a team. Jimmy Butler is a tough nut to crack; IMO more bullheaded than Westbrook.

I think Tom Thibodeau could do something with our current group. We need someone who Westbrook just might be willing to make some adjustments. Don't claim to know what goes on behind the scenes; however, Donovan since replacing Scott doesn't seem to me to have anymore control of Westbrook than Brooks. Westbrook is getting a good influential grip on Paul George.

Let's see what the off-season surgeries do for George & Westbrook. Felt that Westbrooks' frustrations were agitated more when he missed easy shots underneath the goal.

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago - I got an email from Thunder offering additional season tickets for next season in lower bowl, club level and loud city without regard to the number of tickets already on the account. Historically you were maxed at 6 (which we have). I contacted the ticket rep and she confirmed we could add more. This says to me that the ticket market is softer than it has been historically. I also know that several people we knew who were on the wait list for tickets got tickets last season, so I assume that means the wait list is no more.

I can believe that. It wasn't long ago that you could buy season tickets as an investment and make money on the deal by simply selling some/all of the playoff games. Now that we aren't making deep playoff runs, the tickets are actually more for actual fandom use.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti and family donate $600,000 to The Children's Hospital at OU Medicine: https://oklahoman.com/article/5633830/thunder-general-manager-sam-presti-and-family-donate-600000-to-the-childrens-hospital-at-ou-medicine